Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Mercyhurst University men's hockey team had a one-goal lead heading to the third period on Saturday night only to see Canisius College score a pair of goals in the final period to hand the Lakers a 4-3 loss in front of just over 1,000 fans at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. It was the Lakers' first conference loss of the season. The Lakers fell to 3-6-1 overall and 2-1-0 in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings. Meanwhile, the Golden Griffins picked up their first conference win of the year and improved to 2-5-0 overall and 1-3-0 in conference action.

The Lakers dropped to 1-5-1 away from the Mercyhurst Ice Center this season and also suffered their second loss of the year when leading after two periods (2-2-1). Mercyhurst dropped a 5-4 decision and then played to a 3-3 overtime tie against the University of Alaska despite leading both contests after forty minutes.

Mercyhurst had a golden opportunity to tie, or take the lead, in the final 3:39 of the game when Canisius' Carl Larsson was assessed a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. The Lakers got nothing going on the 5-on-4 opportunity, but still was able to pull starting goaltender Jordan Tibbett for a two-skater advantage with 1:07 left. However, Mercyhurst mounted little pressure until the final few ticks on the clock when a couple of Laker shots from in close were blocked.

The visitors took a 1-0 lead at the 12:40 mark of the opening period when senior Daniel O'Donoghue deposited a power play goal past Canisius goaltender Keegan Asmundson. Junior Kyle Just and senior Nick Jones had the assists on O'Donoghue's team-leading sixth goal of the season.

Back came the Golden Griffins less than three minutes later when Chris Rumble scored his first goal of the season, beating Tibbett to tie the game at 1-1 after the opening period. Braeden Rigney and Matthew Grazen had the assists.

Shots favored Canisius in the opening twenty minutes by a slim 13-11 margin.

The Golden Griffins wasted little time in the second period to take their first lead of the night. Patrick Sullivan beat Tibbett with an unassisted goal just 1:15 into the middle stanza for a 2-1 Canisius lead. However, just 31 seconds later, junior Nardo Nagtzaam, who has provided a spark on offense after missing 31 consecutive games dating back to last season, beat Asmundson with a backhander to knot the score at 2-2. Just and junior Zac Frischmon had the assists.

Nagtzaam now has two goals and two assists in five games since returning from his injury.

Freshman Stephen Hrehoriak scored his second goal of the season, and his first collegiate shorthanded tally, at the 12:19 mark to give the Lakers their one-goal lead back at 3-2. Junior Ryan Misiak picked up the lone assist on the goal. The freshman from Stittsville, Ontario leads Mercyhurst freshmen with two goals and is second among Laker rookies with three points this season (Kyle Dutra - 5).

Shots were dead even at 12 apiece in the second.

But, the third belonged to Canisius. Rigney scored at the 4:53 mark to tie the contest at 3-3 with assists going to Grazen and Sullivan. Then, with 7:32 left in regulation, Sullivan scored his second goal of the game, and third of the season, redirecting a shot from the point by Doug Jessey and over the glove hand of Tibbett for the game-winner. Grazen had the other assist.

Tibbett's early season struggles continued on Saturday. He dropped to 0-4-0 on the season, turning aside 27-of-31 Canisius shots in the loss. Meanwhile, Asmundson, who has played better than All-Conference goaltender Tony Capobianco early in the season, improved to 2-1-0 with a 31-save performance. Mercyhurst held a 34-31 shot advantage marking the first time all season that the Lakers have outshot their opponent.

Mercyhurst went 1-for-2 on the power play while Canisius could not score on its only opportunity of the night.

The Lakers will be off next weekend and will not return to action until they host the Purple Eagles of Niagara University on Tuesday night, November 19 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.